Awning structure



June 15, 1954 P. RIMMEIR AWNING STRUCTURE Filed March 9, 1954 Patented June 15, i954 AWNING STRUCTURE Paul Rimmeir,

tion of Florida Miami, Fla., assignor to Birmingham Industries, Inc., Miami,

Fla., a corpora- Application March'9, 1954, Serial No. 414,973 I This invention is an awning structure and pertains particularly to awnings made of metal, plastic or other materials for use in connection with Windows,

synthetic materials usually comprise a frame formed of spaced parallel supporting bars to be attached at one end to the building adjacent to the window or door opening therein and to extend outwardly therefrom, the frame also includes top slats extending crossways of the frame and usually side slats or panels at the ends thereof. As stated, these supporting bars and the slats associated therewith may be formed of metal, plastic, fibreglass or other synthetic materials and may be perfectly plain or flat or fluted longitudinally for ornamental as well as utilitarian effects. The main supportin bars are usually of channel formation with the channel openings extending toward one another, and the top slats have their ends confined within the said channels for support thereby. In instances Where side or end slats are used, these slats extend vertically and are attached by rivets or bolts at their tops either to the exterior or the interiorsurfaces of the channel members. In instances where these side panels are of fibreglass or other synthetic material, the exposed ends are subject to deterioration or disintegration due to ready access of the elements thereto. Moreover, iii-instances where the side panels are secured to the exterior of the channel member, extreme accuracy in cutting the ends of the side panels is necessaryin order to bring about a satisfactory appearance of the slat in its finished form.

Theprimary object of the present inventionis to provide an awning structure wherein the main supporting bars are constructed in suchmanner that the vertically disposed side slats may be at all times adequately housed and protected against deterioration by the weather, and wherein precise accuracy in cutting the upper ends of the side panels is not necessary as these upper ends are at all times obscured from view by the improved supporting structure.

A further object of the invention is to provide main supportin bars equipped with supplementary channels for the accommodation of the upper ends of the end panels affording means whereby the end panels may be easily and quickly applied to the awning structure and held at all times rigidly in proper position in the awning in set-up or completed condition.

From the foregoing objects in with others which will appear as view, together the description doors or other building structures. Awnings fabricated of metal, plastic or other 2 Claims. (01. 2057.5)

upon line 3-3 of Fig. 1,

2 proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the drawings and particularly pointed out in the claims. 1

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an awning structure embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view through the awning shown in Fig. 1, the

view being taken substantially upon line 2-2 of I Fig. 3,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse sectional view through the supporting bar taken Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 and illustrating a modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 5 is a view also similar to Fig. 3 and disclosing a further modification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the awning structure comprises elongated supporting bars 6 to be secured in spaced parallelism against the side of the building with Which it is to be associated and with proper respect to the window or door opening thereof. These'bars are straight throughout a substantial partf of their length and in the present instance curves downwardly into substantially vertical position as indicated at 1. It will be understood that these spaced parallel bars will constitute a frame for the support of the top and side slats, the structure being strengthened or reenforced by the strut plate indicated at 8 and connecting the end of the bar 7 with the These bars, of aluminum or other metal plastic or other synthetic materials.

' These supportin bars are provided upon their inner surfaces with channels indicated'at 9 and the lengths of the bars to extending throughout receive and support the ends of the top or cross slats ll) of the awning structure. The breadth of the channel 9 will be governed by the thickness of the slats as well as any increased lateral dimension caused by fluting or corrugating the slats lengthwise as is sometimes the case. It will be understood that the bars constituting the frame members will be in spaced parallelism with their channels 9 facing one another so as to receive the laterally disposed slats [0 as indicated.

The bars or supports 6 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, are each provided with a supplemental channel represented generally at I I. This channel is formed in the base of each of the bars 6 and is substantially coextensive therewith, the

building as shown.- as well as the struts, may be formed or may be formed of said channels having their open ends disposed at substantially right angles to the main channels 9 of the bars. The channel H at its outer side is defined by the lip portion l2 spaced outwardly from the base of the bar 6 and substantially coextensive therewith. In instances where the supporting bars 6 are formed of suitable material, they may. be formedby extruding processso that the rightangularly disposed channels are formed in one piece and of an integral structure.

In Fig. 4 of the drawing, modified form of the invention, wherein thesupplementary channel for the accommodation of the upstanding side slats or panels; [3. is: formed of a separate member 14 of: channel formation which may be secured to one side of the supporting bar 6 by spot welding or similar securing means indicated at I5. It will be observed in this instance that the channel member M has its opening disposed at substantially right angles to the'channel opening 9 of the supporting bar 6.

Fig. 5 of the drawings discloses a further modification of the invention wherein the supporting bars 6 are of extruded form with the supplemental channel portion l8 formed integral withthe main supporting bar 6 and at a side thereof instead of. at the bottom as shown in Fig. 3.

In assembling the awning structure, the. top slats-: havertheir ends inserted in the main channels 9 in the usual way, after which the vertical slats or panels l3 are. applied. It will be noted that the upper ends of these panels l3 arehoused' within the supplemental channels. H so as to be protected at all times against the Weather. bar'fi by passing screws or bolts i1 through the slats and into suitable. threaded openings provided in the main supporting bars 6. The downturned lip I2 defining the outer side of the supplemental channel in each instance will not only protect the upper edges of the panelsior slats but. will hide. these upper ends from view; For this reason, extreme accuracy in of theupper edges of these vertical panels is-unnecessary. The breadth. of the supplemental channels II will correspondv substantially to-the thickness. of the vertically disposed panels and any increased breadth thereof caused by fluting, lateral concaving or other distortion which may be present in the slats-for. ornamental purposes.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided an awning structure of extremely simple construction which: may be" manufactured and produced by improved processes and whose fabrication is simplified and yet results in afinished structure-of sturdy construction and highly ornamental and attractive in appearance. By adequately housing the upper ends or edges of the vertical-slats orpanels, it is apparenttha-t deteriorationoi these elements will be guarded against.

there is illustrated a.

These panels maybe secured to the thelength or finish and a neat side appearance of the awning structure is at all times maintained. This is of particular importance in instances where the panels are formed of fibreglass or other such material as might readily deteriorate if moisture has ready access thereto. It will be understood that the vertically disposed slats or panels may be formed of various synthetic materialsor of aluminum, steel or other metals. The side slats in the present instance are shown as spaced apart, but it. will be understood that they may be brought together. or in overlapping relationship if desired.

Iclaim:

1. An awning comprising spaced parallel supporting bars, said bars having channels on their inner surf-acesand coextensive therewith, slats extending between. said bars with their ends engaged in said channels, said bars each having a second channel coextensive therewith with its open side disposed at substantially right angles to the openings of. said first named channels, panel members? depending from said bars and having their upper ends disposed within said second channels, means for securing the upper endsof.

said-panel members: in the said channels, and strutssecured at their outer ends to; the ends ofsaid parallel bars and connected to the lower ends' of said depending panel members.

2. In an awning structure, a bar securedat one end to a building and projecting, outwardly there-- from, said bar having a. channel coextensive therewith and said channel having its opening at a side of said bar, said bar having a second channel coextensive therewith and with itsopening,

disposed at right anglesto. saidfirst named char-1.- nel opening, top slats supported at their ends in said first named channel and enclosed thereby, side slats havingtheir upper ends. disposed. in and enclosed by said second channel, means to; secure the upper ends of said side sla-ts in said second channel, a strut secured'at. itsv inner end to said building and disposed beneath said bar and at its outer end to the freeend of said bar, and the lower ends of said panels secured to said strut.

References Cited in. the filev of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS.

Number Name Date 1,723,307 Sipe Aug; 6, 1929" 1,818,404 Kaufman Augpll, 1934 2,126,499 Petersen Aug. 9, 1938' 2,188,090 Young Jan. 23, 1940- 2,379,179 Petersen June 26, 1945 2.388297 Slaughter Nov. 6, 1945 2,448,984 Krauss Sept. 7, 1948 2,584,609 Owen- Feb. 5, 1952 2,650,394 Weaver Sept. 1, 1953 

